Board game employing cord wound on spools



Feb. 2, 1965 P. B. WASHBURN 3,168,314

BOARD GAME EMPLOYING CORD WOUND 0N SPOQLS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 FIG. ,3,

PAUL B. WASHBURN I NVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent ce 3,168,314 BGARD GAME EMEPLOYENG QGRD WQUND 0N SPQGLS Paul B.- Washhurn, Rte. 1, Box 87-(1, Azle, Tex. Filed Dec. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 246,157 Claims. ((31. 273-434) This invention relates to games and has for its primary object a construction and arrangement of parts including multiple cords, each of a predetermined length, for playing a game of skill and chance.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an object is to provide a game where cords of given lengths are wound on spools and laced through or around projections with the view of engaging each projection, according to chance and selection, without running out of cord.

In another embodiment of the invention, an object is to provide dial means in combination with the foregoing whereby the length of cord used by each player is indicated during and at the end of any one game, and whereby each player may be scored for that game.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of an exemplary form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the playing board and an elevational view of one of the projections through which the cords are laced.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the board and showing one of the spools with a cord wound thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of exemplary playing cards which may be used for determining the sequence of projections to be engaged, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the invention including a dial for registering the length of cord played out at any one time.

The form of the invention shown is comprised of a square board 10, four spools 11 on one face of the board and located near the boards sides and midway between its corners, a cord 12 of given length wound on each spool, and projections 13 on the surface of the board. The projections 13 shown are in the form of elongate horizontal members having depending legs 14 engaging the board and four side-by-side openings 15 therethrough for receiving the free ends of the cords 12. The end of each cord 12 has a reinforced tip 16 such as on the ends of shoe laces.

Each spool 12 is mounted for free rotation on a spindle 17 mounted on the board 10, but the spools are retarded in their turning by reason of contact within the board surface. The upper outer surface of each spool 11 is provided with a crank handle 18 for rewinding the cord 12 after each game.

Preferably, there is a projection 13 diagonally disposed near each corner of the board 10, one inwardly of and opposite each spool 11, and one diagonally disposed at the center of the board.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 5 includes the same parts and arrangement described in the foregoing, and additionally includes a friction wheel 19 concentrically mounted on and secured to the bottom surface of each spool 11 for engagement with the periphery of a dial 20 rotatably mounted on a pin 21 projecting from the surface of the board 10. A single pointer 22 on the board 10 registers with indicia on each dial for indicating the length of cord 12 payed out during and after playing the game.

On the surface of the board 10 near each projection 13 there is a picture, shown by means of dotted lines, representing an act or chore to be performed, for ex- 3,168,314 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 ample, beginning at the upper left corner of the board and viewing the same clockwise, the chore represented by the picture is to plow a field, the next, haul hay to the barn, then feed the pigs, repair a windmill, pen the sheep, feed the chickens, milk the cows, and repair the fence. At the center of the board there is an illustration depicting the taking of a nap. As shown in FIG- URE 4 there is a stack of playing cards 23, pairs of which match the pictures on the board 10. The cards 23 are shuffied and placed face down and each player, in turn, draws two cards. Usually, the two cards will be different and the player must choose, according to one of the two pictures on the cards, which of the projections or gates 13 through which he must lace his cord 12. Each player must play, in turn, each time he draws two cards unless he has already performed that chore. If all cards are drawn before the game is over the cards are reshufiied and the drawing is repeated. Each cord 12 is of a length that it is possible to lace the same through each projection or gate 13 in a minimum number of plays. However, and in accordance with cards drawn and selection made between the two cards, it is likely that a player will not have sufiicient length of cord to lace the same through all projections. It is to be understood that other means of multiple chance and choice may be provided within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, instead of cards, dice may be used, in which case the numbers on the dice correspond withv certain of the projections 13, and in which case there would be only 6 projections on the board.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be varied in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising a board, spools rotatably mounted on a surface of said board and equally sequentially spaced apart, a cord wound on each said spool, projections on the surface of said board and positioned thereon to be engaged by said cords, said cords being of equal length and just long enough to engage all said projections in a predetermined sequence, and means including chance and choice determining the sequence of engagement of any one cord with said projections.

2. A game as defined in claim 1, and wherein each said projection includes at least one opening therethrough receiving said cords.

3. A game as defined in claim 1, and including a dial rotatably mounted on the surface of said board adjacent each said spool, means carried by each said spool rotating the adjacent said dial, length indicating indicia around each said dial and a fixed point on said board adjacent each said dial.

4. A game comprising a board, spools rotatably mounted on a surface of said board and equally sequentially spaced apart, a cord wound on each said spool, projections on the surface of said board and positioned thereon to be engaged by said cords, said cords being of equal length and just long enough to engage all said projections in a predetermined sequence, and means determining the sequence of engagement of any one cord with said projections.

5. A game as defined in claim 1, and wherein said means including change and choice is comprised of multiple pairs of playing cards, each pair of said cards beind identifiable with one said projection.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 640,555 1/00 Fuller 273 658,093 9/00 Favour 273-130 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GAME COMPRISING A BOARD, SPOOLS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A SURFACE OF SAID BOARD AND EQUALLY SEQUENTIALLY SPACED APART, A CORD WOUND ON EACH SAID SPOOL, PROJECTIONS ON THE SURFACE OF SAID BOARD AND POSITIONED THEREON TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID CORDS, SAID CORDS BEING OF EQUAL LENGTH AND JUST LONG ENOUGH TO ENGAGE ALL SAID PRO- 